12 September 2006

Malaysian Bio-Composite Centre to be Operational in Early 2007

The Bio-composite and Fibre Development Centre located in Olak Lempit, Banting, is expected to be operational early next year, according to Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui.

The centre will assist the industry in establishing links and smart partnerships with universities, research institutes, government departments and agencies to accelerate the application of research findings into commercial manufacturing of bio-composite. The centre will be managed by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB).

It will also be a one-stop information or focal point for the commercialisation and coordination of research and development of the bio-composite industry in Malaysia. A Bio-composite and Fibre Development unit had been set up earlier at MTIB in August last year and the unit will be moving into the new centre soon.

Since the establishment of the unit, several linkages have already been established with the Institute of Tropical Bio-Composite, UPM, Universiti Teknology Mara (UiTM), Sirim Bhd, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd.

It has also established strategic alliances with overseas research institutes such as the Institute of Natural Fibre in Poland, New Zealand Forest Reserve Institute and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia.